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Choices For Youth hires outside investigator to look into sexual harassment allegations

Allegations against a high-level member of Choices For Youth are being investigated, but the non-profit organization won't say who it hired or who is being investigated.

Organization won't say who it hired, not taking questions from media

An email signed 'Desperate Whistle-Blowers' prompted a review by the Choices for Youth board of directors, which in turn resulted in an external investigation. (Choices for Youth)

Allegations against a high-level member of Choices For Youth are now being investigated, but the non-profit organization won't say who it hired to conduct the probe, or who is being investigated.

CBC News contacted Choices For Youth chairperson Lynn Zurel on Thursday, who confirmed the investigation, but wouldn't take any questions.

"[We] will have no further comment while the investigation is ongoing," she wrote in an email.

Last week, an anonymous letter was sent to media levelling allegations of harassment, sexual harassment, bullying and abuse of power against a member of the Choices For Youth staff.

No new information on allegations

CBC News is not naming the individual at this time, as the claims have yet to be properly verified.

On Monday, the board of directors said it was reviewing the complaint, which in turn led to the external investigation being called.

The letter was signed "Desperate Whistle-Blowers," and said the complaints had been raised with board members before, but were ignored.

When asked who had been hired to do the investigation, Zurel said she couldn't answer.

"We won't be able to say until their engagement is finalized," she wrote.

Choices For Youth is a non-profit organization working with vulnerable people between the ages of 16 and 29 to provide things like housing, employment and access to health care.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ryan Cooke is a journalist with the Atlantic Investigative Unit, based in St. John's. He can be reached at ryan.cooke@cbc.ca.